Remotely controlled switch for toy railroads



June 6, 1939. E. E. McKElGE Er AL 2,161,424

n REMOTELY CONTROLLED SWITCH FOR TOY RAILROADS Filed July 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNvl-:NroRs -EDWARD E. McKE/GE ANTHONY N. `SMITH ATT RNEYS J'un 6, 1939. E. E. MQKEIGE Er Al. 2,161,424

REMOTELY GONTROLLED SWITCH FOR TOY RAILROADS Filed July 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1121.5. 'OZ '04 ma q2 I 75 lO IIO )00 '06 22 88 ne a 24 4 1- nz 54K SKT es Z ,m n4 qa 48 I l, l f ,Z4

ATT RNEYS Patented June 6, 1939 v`P.^.Tr.1\JT OFFICE REMOTELY CONTROLLED SWITCH FOR TOY RAILROADS Edward E. McKeige and Anthony N. Smith, Girard, Pa., assignors to Louis Marx & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application *.ulyv 3l,

' 9 Claims.

morel particularly to remotely controlled track switches for toy railroads of the electrically operated type. j n

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve toy track switches. A more particular object resides in the provision of greatly simplified mechanism for remote control of such switches. Still another object is topositively la) lock `the switch in either extreme position by locking means which in no way complicates or adds to the expense of the switch operating mechanism. v Other objects of our invention center about l the provision of a trackside signal for indicating which way the switch is set, and are to provide a top signal as well as the normal side or vertical signals which face the train, the top signal being more readily observed by a child playing with the train; to provide a plurality of differently colcred signals while using only a single lamp; and to produce the color change or signal change without necessitating the rotation of a signalor semaphore. A single lamp is employedwhich is xedly mounted. A single housing is provided which is stationarily mounted around the lamp and which carries fixed apertures orvlenses, but the ylight transmitted from the housing is varied by' means controlled by the switch operating mechanism in va most simple and direct manner. Still further objects of the invention concern the movable switch points and the manner inv which smooth continuous energization of the contactrshoe of the train is obtained while the train is passing over the switch.v In accordance with our invention, each movable rail of the switch is insulatedly mounted and may act as either a wheel bearing rail or as a current carrying third rail.V A transfer strip is pivotally mounted in such manner that when the insulated rail acts as ax third rail it is contacted by the transfer strip and thereby energized, buty when the said insulated rail acts as a wheel bearing railit is disengaged from the transfer strip. The transfer strip also providesV a smooth mechanical movementor transition of the third rail contact shoe ofthe train over the parts of the switch. To the accomplishment.l of the-foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, our invention consists in the toy railroad switch elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described inthe rspecification and sought to be defined in the claims. "The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

This'- invention relates to track switches,V and f 1936, `Serial No. 93,540

Fig. l is a partially sectioned plan view of a switch embodying features of our invention;

' Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the base with the switch inverted;

Fig. 3 is a section taken in elevation in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig.-4 is a section taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing one manner in which a pair of switches constructed in accordane with my invention may be used and remotely controlled in a toy railroad system; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the housing for the signal and switch operating means.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, the track switch there shown comprises a base l2 on which are mounted rails comprising a main track I4 and a branch track I6. Movable switch points i8 and 20 function to guide a train over either the main line I4 or the branch line I6. The switch points i8 and 20 are moved by remotely controllable mechanism including a pair of solenoids 22 and 24 which move a suitable core 26 to either extreme position. Core 26 carries an operating finger 28 (Fig. 3) which' is received in a sloping cam slot 30 formed in a transversely movable shift plate 32. Shift plate 32 is connected to the movable parts of the' switch by an appropriate link 34.

Considering the switch mechanism in greater detail, the base l2 includes a sheet metal base plate which is downwardly flanged around its periphery, asis indicated at 3B. The base is preferably enclosed by a bottom plate 38 which is upwardly flangedv at 40, the flange 40 being dimensioned to be received within flange 36. The

resulting upper and lower sidesof the base are secured together by one or more fastening means such as rivets or eyelets, the parts of the base being indented and brought in face to face contact at such fastening means, this being indicated at 42 in Fig. 3 and 44 in Fig. 4.

The solenoids 22 and 24 are preferably mounted coaxially in end to end relation, as by moving the coils over a single central tube within which core 26 is slidable. It will be understood that only Vone of coils 22 and 24 is energized at any -one time, thereby pulling the preferably short ironl core 2l to a position within that coil.

Base i2 is cut away to form an elongated opening 46 over which is mounted a strip of insulation 48 which in turn carries three binding posts 50, 52, and 54. As will be evident from examination of Figs. 2 and 3, a conductor 56 leads from bindin post 50 to one terminal of coil 22. A

conductor 66 leads from binding post I2 to the other terminal of coil 22 and also to one terminal of coil 24. A third conductor 66 extends` from binding post 64 to the other terminal of coil 24.

The conductors pass upwardly from the base to A the coils through an appropriate slot or window 62. It will be evident that when controlenergy lis applied between binding post 66 and the center binding post 62, the coil 22 is energized, thus attracting the solenoid core 26 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, whereas when control energy is applied between binding post 64 and the center I coils are themselves secured to end plates 64 by forming tongues 66 on the ends of the center tube of the coil assembly, these tongues being bent outwardly against plates 64, as is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4'.

Shift plate 32 andk the connecting link 24 are preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal. Shift plate'32 lies above base I2, while link 24 is disposed within the base and underlies the upper plate I2. A suitable opening T6 is cut through base I2 in order to receive link 34, the link being stepped or bent downwardly at 12 to bring the samey from a position above base plate I2 to a position therebelow. The opening 16 is, of course, made long enough to accommodate the desired movement of link 24. Shift plate 36 is guided for transverse movement by means of an eyelet'14 mounted on plate 32 and rslidable in a slot 'I6 extending transversely of the switch.

Only one such guide means is necessary because the path of movement of link 34 is determined by its pivotal connection`l6 to the movable part of the switch. Because of the connection 16 and the guide slot 16, the shift plate 22 is constrained to move transversely of the switch.

Base plate I2 is also provided with a longitudilnal slot 66, best shown in Figs. 2 and,3. This slot receives the lower end of finger 26 and constrains the finger to move longitudinally of the switch. that is, in the direction of the axis of the solenoid assembly. Finger 26 is vbent downwardly from a rod 62 which extends to and is secured` to solenoid core 26. Finger 26 also passes through the sloping or camming slot 36 previously referred to, the said slot 26 being formed in shift plate 22.

It is importantto note that the ends of slot 36 are prolonged in adirection parallel to the solenoid system, as is indicatedY at 64 and 66, for

these ends act as locking means to prevent un-l intentional movement or opening of the switch points. For example, in the position shown in Fig. 1 the solenoid core 26 has been moved to the right, thereby moving shift plate 22 downwardly and so bringing switch point 26 to the straight or through position shown. The switch point is locked in this position because the last part of the movement o f the solenoid core causes finger 26 to pass into the locking part 66 of the cam slot, and this movement is irreversible.

T'he switch operating mechanism and the signal means are housed within a housing 66 consisting of top and side walls, the side walls being secured to base plate I2 by suitable 'tongue andslot connections 66. Superposed on housing 66 is an auxiliary ysignal casing 92. This casing extends with its long' dimension transversely of the switch, as is best shown in Fig. 6. It is shown in 'secured to the top oi' housing 66 by a suitable screw |66. Opening 66 isa rectangular opening substantially coextensive with the bottom of signal casing 62. The signal casing is apertured or windowed at its opposite'sides and preferably also at the top, and these windows are preferably provided with glass lenses |62, |64, and |66. The lenses are made of clear glass and therefore function for the display of a signal of any desired color. f' Each lens is held in place by a small metal frame |66 having tongues ||6 which pass through the windows andare bent sidewardly to hold the frame and lens in place.

A signal lamp |I2 is threadedly received in a suitable base or socket I|4 mounted on base plate I2 at a point at the center of signal casing 62. Lamp ||2 is thus disposed to directly illuminate the'lenses |62, |64, and |66.

The light is colored by interposing astrip of Celluloid or like translucent colored material between the lamp and the lenses. Specifically, we employ an inverted U-shaped strip of Celluloid I I6 which may be of one color, say red, and another similar inverted U-shaped strip of Celluloid I|6 of a different color, say green. These strips are arranged edge to edge, as is best shown in Fig. l,

, and form a continuous tunnel having a shape best shown in Fig. 3. These strips of Celluloid are secured to shift plate 32 and consequently slide back and forth relative to the lamp when the shift plate is moved. For example, in Fig. l strip II6, thatis, the green strip, is interposed between the lamp ||2 and the lenses, producing a green signal indicating that the switch is set in Y is moved to the positiony movement of the shift plate. 'I'he material cut away to form the comparatively large rectangularA opening |26 is bent upwardly to form upstanding walls I 22, best shown in Fig. 3, the edges of which are in turn bent inwardly to form tongues |24. The lower ends of Celluloid strip I|6 are slotted to ilt over the tongues |24, and the natural resilience of the Celluloid, causing the saine to expand outwardly, holds the strips in place on tongues |24.

Access to lamp ||2 in order to change the saine when burned-out, is obtained by removing screw |66, elevating signal casing 92, and temporarily removing one or another of the transparent col-1 ored Ystrips I I 6, I I6.

Lamp |I2 is energized through an insulated served that insulated conductors |32 and |24 in terconnect third rail sections |26, |26, and |26. Each of these sections is, of course, insulatedly mounted on the base, and all are constantly ener- .'gized and in continuous connection with the rel `mainder of the track system.

rails |42 and |44 are cut away to form the switch f points Il and 2l previously referred to. Insulation plate |40 is movably mounted, preferably by means of a fixed pivot |44..k The arrangement is such that in one position, that shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, the straight raily |42 acts as a wheel bearing rail, while Ethe other rail |44 acts as a y. between the solid and broken line positions shown in Fig. 1. y

In addition to the parts so far described, we provide a relatively thin flexible transfer strip ill one end ofk which is bent-downwardly at |52 and ypivotallyconnected to third rail section |22 at rivet |54, while the other end Ill is bent downwardly f and v pivotally connected to insulation plate |40 by an eyelet |52. The center portion oi strip |50 just overlies either of railsv |42 and |44.

' In the position shown inFig. l it overlies rail |44 and operates to feed current to rail |44. At this time(` strip '|50 in no way contacts rail |42. The contactshoe of the train is continuously ener- 'gizedl as it passes over the switch, and its movement is made smooth and silent because of the transition between the ilxedandmovable parts of the switch provided by strip Ill. The contact shoe of the train is preferablymade of k*substantial length and is adequate to continuously energize 'the train even though it would not be adequate to bridge the entire movable part of the switch'were the transfer strip |50 not employed.

When the switch is set to theposition shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, .thetransfer strip lit is moved well out of contact with the curved track |44 but instead overlies and engages the straight rail |42, for it is the latter which then acts as a center or third rail for 'the switch.

In Fig. we show va pair of switches connected in a track system to provide a siding |60 offset from the main line |22. It will be understood thatthe switches may be used in various other ways, and that the present illustration is merely by way of example. A step-down transformer |44 may be energized from a household lighting circuit. and supplies a reduced voltage through conductors l to the ltrack system by meansof a connector |48, The voltage suppliedto the track system, and consequently the speed of the train, may be varied by means of a suitable con- 'Ihe transformer istrol ,lever or. handle |12. n preferably provided with separate binding. posts forenergizing the tracksider accessories, although this refinement is not essential. In the present case such binding posts are connected-by means of binding posts |16, while on depressing button |I4 energy is supplied to the center and lower one of binding posts |10. f This.' ot course, moves Y the switch toeither position and only momentary depression of the control button is needed, for the switch is thereafter locked in placeuntil the opposite control button ,is depressed. The signal lamp is, of course, constantly energized, and theI color of the signal indicates in which position the switch is set. s

The control panel |14 is preferably provided with-parts duplicate to those already referred to in order to control the other switch IIB. Specifically, there isa set of three binding posts I corresponding kto the binding posts |10, and a pair of push-buttons |22, |94 corresponding to the push-buttons |82, |84 previously referred to. By simultaneously depressing push-buttons |82 andv |42, the switches may be simultaneously set in one position, and, conversely, by simultaneously depressing push-buttons |84 and i 22 the switches any be simultaneously moved to opposite posion. It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the many advantages of our improved remotely controlled switch for toy railroads, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. The switch tongues are shiftedby mechanism of extraordinary simplicity.l yet` this mechanism functions to positively lock the switch tongues in either position. 'I'he switch carries an electrically lighted signal which is attractive and somewhat mystifying in operation because the color change is produced in a single set oflenses, yet only one continuously energized lamp is required, thus dispensing with switching or the like for lamp circuits. The movable parts of the switch function as either awheel bearing rail or a current carrying third rail, and current is supplied to whichever rail acts as a third rail, by a suitable transfer strip whichy also functions to provide a smooth movement of the locomotive contact shoe over the switch.

While we have shown an operating finger moved by the solenoid core which cooperates with a shift plate having a suitable cam slot, said shift plate being connected to the switch points, it will be understood that this cam mechanism with its automatic ,locking feature may equally well be embodied by mounting a cam slot plate for movement by they solenoid core, said cam slot plate cooperating with a finger v'connected to the switch points. For convenience, in the claims we lrefer to the operating iingerbeing mounted on the core, but the cam arrangements referred to are interchangeable. Because of this and other changes, it will be apparent that while we have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be madein the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

Weclaimz l. A remotely controllable track switch for toy railroads, comprising a base having a top plate carrying main and branch tracks, movable switch points for guiding a train along either the main or branch track, and remotely controllable means for moving said switch points, said means including a double solenoid system, a core movable from one extreme position to another by energization of one or the other yof the` solenoids, a vertical operating finger on said core, a slot in said top plate extending longitudinally of the core, one end of said operating ilnger being slidably received in ma nos, a snm pme movable transversely of said solenoids and connected at one end to the switch points for shifting the same toone position or the other, a slot in said top plate extending transversely of the core beneath the other end of the shift plate, a pin` on said shift plate projecting into said slot, said shiftv -plate having a cam slot therein receiving the va base carrying main and branch tracks, a movable switch point for guiding a train along either the main or branch track, horizontally movable means for moving said switch point, and an electrically lighted signal system for indicating the l position of the switch point, including' la stationary lamp, a housing disposed over said lamp and provided with side and top light-emitting windows at the lamp, and transparent color-changing means interposedv between the lamp and the side and top windows and arranged for horizontal movement, said means including different colored portions arranged side by side and connected to the horizontally movable means for shifting the switch point, whereby one colory light is emitted from all of the signal windows when the switch is in one position, and another color light is emitted from all of the signal windows when the 4 switch is in yopposite position.

3. A track switch for toy railroads, comprising a base carrying main and branch tracks, movable switch points for guiding a train along either the main or `branch track, horizontally movable means for moving said switch points, and an electrically lighted signal system for indicating the position of the switch points, including a single stationary lamp, a housing disposed over said lamp and provided with light-emitting lenses at the lamp, and color-changing means interposed between the lamp and the lenses, said means including an inverted U-shaped red Celluloid strip and an inverted U-shaped green Celluloid 4strip arranged in side'by side relation, said strips being mounted on the horizontally movable means for shifting the switch points, wherebya red light is emitted from'the signal when the switch is in' one position and a green light is emitted from the signal when the switch is in opposite position. Y

` 4. A track switch fortoy railroads, comprising a base carrying main and'branch tracks, a movable switch point for guiding a train along either the lmain or branch track-and means for moving said switch point including a shift plate horizontally movable transversely of said switch and connected to the switch point for shifting the same to one position or the other, and signal means for indicating the position of the switch,

said means including a stationary lamp, a stalamp and housing, said strips of material being mounted on the aforesaid horizontally movable shift plate, whereby one or the other of said strips is disposed between the lamp and the lenses when the shift -plate is moved to either extreme position.

5. A track switch for toy railroads, comprising a base carrying main and branch tracks, a movable switch point'for 'guiding a train along either the main or branch track, and means 'for moving said switch point including an operating linger movable longitudinally of the switch, a shift plate movable transversely of said switch and connected to the switch point for shifting the same to one position or the other, said shift plate having a cam slot therein cooperating with the aforesaid finger, said cam slot extending at an angle in its intermediate portion and extending longitudinally of the switch atv its ends, whereby movement of the finger longitudinally of the switch causes movement of the shift plate transversely of the switch and locks the shift plate in posi- .tion until the finger is again moved, thereby locking the switch point in position against accidental opening, and signal means for indicating the position of the switch, said means including a stationary lamp, a stationary housing mounted over said lamp, said housing having windows at the lamp, and color-changing means including a piece of colored translucent material and a difi'erently colored piece of translucent material arranged end to end between the lamp and housing, said pieces of material being mounted on the f aforesaid shift plate, whereby one or the other of said colors is disposed between the lamp and the windows when the shift plate is moved to either extreme position.

6. A remotely controllable track switch for toy railroads, comprising a base carrying main and branch tracks, movable switch points for guiding a train along either the main or branch track, and remotely controllable means for moving said switch points, said means including a double solencid system, a c ore movable from one extreme position to another by energization of one or the other of the solenoids, and means whereby movevment of the solenoid core causes movement of the switch, -and signal means for indicating the position of the switch, said means including a stationary lamp, a stationary housing mounted over said lamp, said housing having windows at the lamp, and color-changing means including red translucent material and green translucent material arranged end to end between the lamp, and housing, said materials being connected directly to the switch moving means for movement therewith, whereby one or the other of said colors is disposed'between the lamp and the windows when the switch is moved to either extreme position.

'1. A remotely controllable track-switch for toy railroads, comprising a base carrying main and branch tracks, movable switch points for guiding a train along either the main or branch track, and remotely controllable means for moving said switch points, said means including a double solenoid system, a core movable from one extreme position to another by energization of one or the other of the solenoids, an operating ilnger on said core, a shift plate movable transversely of `said solenoids and connected to the switch points for shifting the same to one position or the other, said shift plate havinga sloping cam slot therein cooperating with the aforesaid `finger, whereby. movement of the solenoid core longitudinally of the switch causes movement of the shift Vme member um "een, manual means for indicating the position' of the switch. said means 'including a stationary lamp, a sta- -tlonaryhousing mounted over said lamp, said housing having windows at the lamp, and colorchanslns means including red translucent material and green translucent material arranged side by side between the lamp and housing, said coloredmate'rials being mounted on the aforesaid shift plate, whereby one or the other of said colors is disposed betweenlthe lamp and the windows when the shift plate is moved to either extreme position.

- s. s remotely communie mex switch for my shifting thesame to one position or `the other,

. top lenses at the lamp. and color-changing means including an inverted U-shaped strip of red translucent material and an inverted U-shaped strip of green translucent material arranged side by side between the lamp and housing, said strips of material beingr mounted on the aforesaid shift plate, whereby one or the other of said strips is disposed between the lamp and the lenses when the shift plate is moved to either extreme position.

9. A track switch for toy railroads comprising a'base carrying main and branch tracks, a horilontally movable switch point for guiding a train along either the main or branch track, and an electrically lighted signal system for indicating the position of the switch ypoint including a stationary lamp, a horizontally movable member having' a slot cut therethrough disposed around the lamp, a housing disposed over the lamp and said horizontally movable member and provided with. light-emitting windows at the lamp, an inverted U-shaped red Celluloid strip and an in' verted U-shaped green Celluloid strip arranged in side by side relation and mounted on the aforesaid horiaontally movable member. said member having inwardly projecting tongues at the sides of the slot, and said Celluloid strips having slots near their ends receiving said tongues, the strips being held on said member by the resilient expansion of the legs of the strips when bent to U-shape. and'means connecting said horizontally movable member to the switch point for movement thereby, whereby a red light is emitted when the switch is in one position, and a green v -light is emitted when the switch is in opposite position.

EDWARD E. McKEIGE. l ANTHONY N. SMITH. 

